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TIM HARBOLD
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Marchin' to Zion

       ​   — "This one is a great closer" 
          — performed by the AR All-State Mixed Choir


​Rousing gospel hymn
for SATB choir & piano
6'
Published by Santa Barbara Music Publishing SBMP1074

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Performed by the 2017 Arkansas All-State Mixed Choir.

It starts very innocently, but then gospel quickly takes hold, and the piece gets to marchin' all the way to a rousing conclusion. This one is a great closer.  —Sheet Music Plus

A lush setting of the gospel hymn leads to a rousing setting for gospel choir.  —Santa Barbara Music Publishing

​Harbold gives the piece energy, drive and an unmistakable train engine on the road to “fairer worlds on high.” — Jane Ring Frank
NOTES

This arrangement contrasts and celebrates two very different renditions of the gospel hymn "Marching to Zion."  The dreamy introduction showcases the traditional gospel hymn that I knew from childhood.   But the bulk of the arrangement grooves to the upbeat gospel rendition I learned from my Gospel Choir at United Baptist Church, with some added "marching" vamp sections and accelerating key changes that are all my own.  

Gospel music is highly improvisational, and I give your pianist permission to improvise freely.   The upbeat rendition of the hymn is normally sung "call and response" style with a soloist who improvises throughout.  If you have a fantastic gospel soloist, please add them!   To give you an idea of what a performance with improvised piano and soloist might sound like, listen to New England Conservatory Chorus rendition below.   They're fantastic!
ADDITIONAL RECORDINGS

​Arkansas All-State rendition
Example of a performance featuring amazing improvisation!  
​If you have pianists and soloists who can improvise, check out the original performance by the New England Conservatory Chorus, with Phillip Woods on piano and Karen Tobin on vocals:

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